Campaign of hate led to former lumberjack wearing a Rod wig

A PENSIONER wrongly suspected of cutting down the iconic Sycamore Gap tree has told how he resorted to wearing a Rod Stewart wig in public as the finger of suspicion was pointed at him.

- SOPHIE DOUGHTY

Former lumberjack Walter Renwick, 70, was arrested along with a teenager soon after the world-famous tree was felled in September, 2023. But both were released without charge as detectives probing the bizarre act of vandalism turned their attention to the real culprits, Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers, who are due to be sentenced this week.

Now Walter has told how he faced a campaign of hate in the aftermath of the crime, and had to wear a disguise in public.

He said: “It was heartbreaking. There were police everywhere, drones flying around the valley, divers in the lake. They were 100 per cent certain I'd done it.